The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe
 

Podcast #12: September 7th 2005 (Download MP3)

Topics:

Issue #1. Follow up from previous episodes

Issue #2. Science or Fiction

Issue #3. Interview: Steve Milloy



Issue #1. Follow up from previous episodes



Haunted Ebay: We previously reported about the sale of allegedly haunted dolls on Ebay. Recently a listener sent us a link about a haunted phone on Ebay. Apparently, this red rotary phone has the number 666 on it in various places. Real subtle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAUNTED-PHONE-SPEAK-TO-THE-DEAD-MODEL-500-TELEPHONE_W0QQitemZ5606103529

Science or Fiction – Volcanisim in the solar system. On a recent Science or Fiction I claimed that the only known active volcano outside the Earth is Jupiter’s moon Io. Well, after more research it discovered that recently (July of this year) it was confirmed that Saturn’s moon Enceladus, has “ice” volcanoes. Neptune’s moon, Triton, has been found to have nitrogen geysers. Also, images of a possible volcano has been seen on Saturn’s moon Titan, but activity has not yet been confirmed. There is however indirect evidence of possible ice and ammonia volcanic activity.



 

Issue #2. Science or Fiction

Each week our host will come up with three science news items or facts, two genuine, one fictitious. He will challenge our panel of skeptics to sniff out the fake – and you can play along.

Theme this week – Right for the wrong reason. For which one of the following pseudosciences were proponents on the correct side of a major scientific debate?

Item #1: Astrology
Item #2: Phrenology
Item Homeopathy


So...which one is false? Follow this link to find out.


 

Issue #3. . Interview: Steve Milloy



Steve Milloy is the webmaster of Junkscience.com (http://www.junkscience.com/), a website dedicated to exposing bad science of all stripes.

He is also an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute and author of Junk Science Judo: Self-defense Against Health Scares and Scams.